Sarnia mayor looks forward to working with new Windsor mayor

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says he didn't collaborate much with current Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, who said he will not seek re-election. (CBC News)

In an effort to ensure southwestern Ontario isn't ignored by Queen's Park, Sarnia's mayor hopes to work closely with Windsor's next mayor.

Windsor-Essex elected a trio of NDP MPPs. Sarnia-Lambton is represented by Progressive Conservatives.

However, the Liberals won a majority government. The closest Liberal MPP is Deb Matthews, in London.

With no Liberals close to either city, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley thinks working with Windsor's next Mayor will be even more important to the region.

"The Premier has made it very clear that she wants to engage with areas that did not support the Liberal party. So we need to find a way that we can - in a non-partisan way - work with Queen's Park and develop that relationship," Bradley said. "Because we all have issues that are of extreme importance to our community where Queen's Park can make the difference."

Bradley says he didn't collaborate much with current Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, who said he will not seek re-election.

"Each mayor has their own approach and it's not a criticism," Bradley said. "I am hoping - if I do run again and am successful - to bring together the mayors of the border cities.

"There will be new mayors in Windsor and in London, and other areas that have common interests ... and [we'll] see if we can work together."